Crepes at stage right: Theatergoers can rejoice. The Peninsula-based Whispers Cafe & Creperie has just opened its second San Jose location: next door to San Jose Repertory. With this space dark so long, stage fans had been limited in their pre-theater dining choices. Now, with Whispers open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and until 10 p.m. the other nights, they also will have a post-theater option just steps away for those heady debates that start when the curtain drops. Although the restaurant is known for its crepes and omelets (served all day and into the evening), it also offers a half-dozen entree choices, including salmon, steak and fish and chips. Still, the sweet-tooth crowd rules: Owner Danny Qutami says the bestsellers are the Whisper Crepe (Nutella-topped strawberries and bananas, with cinnamon and brown sugar) and the Coolum Crepe (strawberries, raspberries, marshmallows, cinnamon and brown sugar, topped with white chocolate sauce). Details: Open at 8 a.m. daily. 150 S. Second St., San Jose. www.whisperscafe.com.

Cooking, the stage show: Broadway San Jose is bringing Alton Brown, TV's mad scientist of cooking, to the Center for Performing Arts for one night, Oct. 24. "Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour" is a touring stage show that promises "highly unorthodox culinary demonstrations," plenty of opportunities for onstage audience participation (yikes!) plus live music. Tickets go on sale Aug. 24 via Ticketmaster. Prices start at $25.50; the high-end tickets, at $101.50, include a preshow reception with Brown and VIP seating.